Supermarine Southampton Mk I

Supermarine Southamptons were the first RAF flying boat designed after the First World War. They entered RAF service in 1925 at RAF Calshot, Hampshire and were used for maritime patrol around the world.

In 1927, four aircraft flew from England to Singapore and then on to Hong Kong and Australia, covering 27,000 miles / 43,452 kilometres over six months. After this aircraft was damaged in a storm in 1928 the hull was sold and used as a houseboat on the River Deben in Essex. It was recovered from the river in 1967 and restored by the RAF Museum, finally going on display in 1995.